OBS March makes adjustment to one continuous session

Published: Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 11:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 11:38 p.m.

Despite some rain forced changes, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s premier two-year-old in training sale, usually referred to as “OBS March,” is set now for one continuous session on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

The sale, originally slated for two-days Monday and Tuesday, will now sell all 411 horses cataloged, less scratches, on Tuesday. The change resulted when severe thunderstorms and heavy rain was forecast for last Thursday, the day the first under tack show was scheduled.

To better accommodate buyers and sellers, OBS postponed the under tack shows from Thursday and Friday to Friday and Saturday.

With the decision to sell in one continuous session on Tuesday, buyers will have had two days — Sunday and Monday — to inspect and evaluate horses for purchase.

The sale will be held at the OBS facilities at 1701 S.W. 60th Ave., across the street from the Ocala Airport.

The catalog presents 411 selected two-year-olds. As of Sunday morning, postings on the OBS website indicated that 83 horses had been scratched from the sale.

In Saturday's under tack show, local horseman Nick de Meric's trainees posted two of the fastest times for a quarter mile. A son of Curlin, Hip No. 305, worked the fastest quarter, stopping the tele-timer in :20 3/5 seconds. De Meric also sent out a son of Half Ours, Hip No. 317, to work a quarter in :20 4/5 seconds.

A de Meric charge also posted the fastest time for a quarter in Friday's under tack show when Hip No. 51, a son of Street Boss, stopped the tele-timer in :21 seconds flat.

Other stallions represented in the catalog are Medaglia d'Oro, More Than Ready, Pioneerof the Nile, Smart Strike, Street Cry, Tapit, Tiznow, Unbridled's Song and War Front.

On the racing front, the weekend produced some big news.

A showdown between Florida-bred Mucho Macho Man, winner of the Breeder's Cup Classic, and the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Will Take Charge, runner-up in the Classic, in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (Grade 1) ended with the Bob Baffert-trained Game On Dude going wire-to-wire to spoil the showdown.

It was a record third Santa Anita Handicap win for Game On Dude, winner of more than $6 million and eight wins in 11 starts at Santa Anita. I guess this could be safely called home court advantage.

Closer to home, Palace Malice, last year's Belmont (G1) winner returned to the races after a brief layoff following his sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic with a head win in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2).

The son of Curlin won the race in a three-horse photo finish with Travers Stakes (G1) winner Golden Ticket and Uncaptured, trained by Ocala native Mark Casse.

On the Kentucky Derby trail, Ring Weekend upset the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) with a shocking wire-to-wire win at odds of 14-to-1. Making his sixth career start after breaking his maiden last time out at Gulfstream Park, the son of Tapit sailed to an easy three-length victory over Sam Davis Stakes (G3) winner Vinceremos.

Back at Santa Anita, California-bred California Chrome cruised wire-to-wire in very fast time in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) to move further down the Road to the Kentucky Derby. It was his first win in open company.

The Derby Trail also suffered a casualty, when it was reported that Top Billing, in the top five of most Derby polls, has a cracked cannon bone in his right front and is off the Derby Trail.

<p>Despite some rain forced changes, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s premier two-year-old in training sale, usually referred to as “OBS March,” is set now for one continuous session on Tuesday at 10 a.m.</p><p>The sale, originally slated for two-days Monday and Tuesday, will now sell all 411 horses cataloged, less scratches, on Tuesday. The change resulted when severe thunderstorms and heavy rain was forecast for last Thursday, the day the first under tack show was scheduled.</p><p>To better accommodate buyers and sellers, OBS postponed the under tack shows from Thursday and Friday to Friday and Saturday. </p><p>With the decision to sell in one continuous session on Tuesday, buyers will have had two days — Sunday and Monday — to inspect and evaluate horses for purchase. </p><p>The sale will be held at the OBS facilities at 1701 S.W. 60th Ave., across the street from the Ocala Airport. </p><p>The catalog presents 411 selected two-year-olds. As of Sunday morning, postings on the OBS website indicated that 83 horses had been scratched from the sale.</p><p>In Saturday's under tack show, local horseman Nick de Meric's trainees posted two of the fastest times for a quarter mile. A son of Curlin, Hip No. 305, worked the fastest quarter, stopping the tele-timer in :20 3/5 seconds. De Meric also sent out a son of Half Ours, Hip No. 317, to work a quarter in :20 4/5 seconds.</p><p>A de Meric charge also posted the fastest time for a quarter in Friday's under tack show when Hip No. 51, a son of Street Boss, stopped the tele-timer in :21 seconds flat.</p><p>In terms of sire power, this sale offers sons and/or daughters of such prominent stallions as Awesome Again, Bernardini, Candy Ride, Distorted Humor, Giant's Causeway, Harlan's Holiday, Into Mischief, Kitten's Joy and Malibu Moon.</p><p>Other stallions represented in the catalog are Medaglia d'Oro, More Than Ready, Pioneerof the Nile, Smart Strike, Street Cry, Tapit, Tiznow, Unbridled's Song and War Front.</p><p>On the racing front, the weekend produced some big news. </p><p>A showdown between Florida-bred Mucho Macho Man, winner of the Breeder's Cup Classic, and the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Will Take Charge, runner-up in the Classic, in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (Grade 1) ended with the Bob Baffert-trained Game On Dude going wire-to-wire to spoil the showdown.</p><p>It was a record third Santa Anita Handicap win for Game On Dude, winner of more than $6 million and eight wins in 11 starts at Santa Anita. I guess this could be safely called home court advantage.</p><p>Closer to home, Palace Malice, last year's Belmont (G1) winner returned to the races after a brief layoff following his sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic with a head win in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2).</p><p>The son of Curlin won the race in a three-horse photo finish with Travers Stakes (G1) winner Golden Ticket and Uncaptured, trained by Ocala native Mark Casse.</p><p>On the Kentucky Derby trail, Ring Weekend upset the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) with a shocking wire-to-wire win at odds of 14-to-1. Making his sixth career start after breaking his maiden last time out at Gulfstream Park, the son of Tapit sailed to an easy three-length victory over Sam Davis Stakes (G3) winner Vinceremos.</p><p>Back at Santa Anita, California-bred California Chrome cruised wire-to-wire in very fast time in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) to move further down the Road to the Kentucky Derby. It was his first win in open company.</p><p>The Derby Trail also suffered a casualty, when it was reported that Top Billing, in the top five of most Derby polls, has a cracked cannon bone in his right front and is off the Derby Trail.</p>